Trilogy Guided Imagery For Healing, Inc.

          Researchers at such prestigious sites as Ohio State University, Pennsylvania State University, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Cleveland, Ohio, Massachusetts General Hospital, Yale, and Michigan State University have all done studies on the effectiveness of guided imagery.  Their topics ranged from treating depression, to mental and physical pain, and cancer.  All concluded that guided imagery significantly improved the overall quality of life for the participants, by reducing symptoms such as pain, improving their immune response which improved their recovery rate and shortened the length of time of their illness, and improved their self-esteem.

           Psychology Suite 101 reports that �if you�re looking for a way to ease chronic pain, speed the healing process, or reduce anxiety and stress, consider guided imagery.  It�s an alternative therapy that�s noninvasive and drug-free.�   The publication explains that guided imagery �sends direct, positive messages to the emotional control center of the brain.  Those messages then travel to your immune system and autonomic nervous system, which affects your heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing rates�You let positive hormones flood your body, and you concentrate on keeping that positive energy strong.  Your body can�t differentiate between reality and thoughts�you imagine positive events � and your body responds in healthy ways.�

          The Cancer Section of the Medical Librarian Association states that Guided Imagery “…is considered a complimentary therapy that works well with traditional treatments.  Guided Imagery can reduce stress, anxiety, enhance personal awareness, and improve psychological coping skills.”  This article states further “Cancer patients frequently request information or resources on guided imagery and visualization.  These patients are generally interested in complimentary therapies for pain and nausea control, heightened immune functioning, reduced anxiety and depression and to otherwise improve their quality of life with a positive mental attitude.

         Studies by the University of Pittsburgh compared biofeedback, progressive muscle relaxation, meditation, guided imagery, hypnosis, tai chi, qi gong, and yoga for their effectiveness in treating pain and stiffness associated with osteoarthritis.  Guided Imagery showed significant reduction in pain and mobility difficulties after 12 weeks, as reported in Pain Management Nursing.

      The University of South Florida College of Nursing reported that guided imagery intervention may have an effect on heightening immune function, after they found a significant differences between their control group and the guided imagery intervention group, while studying immune function in breast cancer patients.

  We discover from Health Journeys Magazine the Three Principles of Guided Imagery, which are:

    1.  The Mind Body Connection

           Images are events to the body.

          To the body, images created in the mind can be almost as real as actual events.

          2.  The Meditative State

                 In a meditative, relaxed state, we are capable of a more rapid and intense

           emotional and physical healing, and intuitive insight.

     3.  The Locus of Control

           When we have a sense of being in control, and have available to us a simple

            technique that we can use whenever, wherever and however we wish, we

            support our sense of wellness, self-sufficiency, and self-esteem.

      The US Veterans Administration as well as the Australian Centre for Posttraumatic Mental Health researched guided imagery’s usefulness in treating posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD.)  They reported significant improvements in the reduction of nightmare frequency and intensity, increased positive mood states, improved sense of self and others and improved cognitive and emotional functioning.

The Cleveland Clinic states, �Clinical studies have shown that anxiety can intensify pain, prolong recovery time and lower the immune system.  Guided Imagery can bring about the state of mind and body most conducive to healing.�  This article goes on to state the benefits of guided imagery:

     1.   Reduces stress and anxiety.

      2.  Decreases pain and narcotic consumption.

      3.  Enhances sleep.

          The world-renowned Mayo Clinic describes Guided Imagery as “…a learning process to listen to someone’s voice, relax the breathing and consciously direct the ability to imagine.  The effect of guided vivid imagery sends a message to the emotional control center of the brain.  From there, the message is passed along to the body’s endocrine, immune and autonomic nervous systems.  These systems influence a wide range of bodily functions, including heart, breathing rates and blood pressure.  The Mayo Clinic goes on to state that Guided Imagery provides the following benefits to clients:

        1.  Reduces the negative side effects of cancer treatments.

       2.  Reduces pre-surgery fear and anxiety, post surgery need for prolonged pain medications, and allowed clients to leave the hospital more quickly than those who had not used Guided Imagery.

       3.  Improves the client's ability to manage stress.

       4.  Aids the client's ability to reduce the severity of migraine headaches just

as effectively as taking preventative medications.       

       The UCSF Mt. Zion Infusion Center study of chemotherapy patients revealed that guided imagery performed significantly better than relaxation techniques, and further, that after only one session of personalized imagery, patients had less anxiety and felt more excited and hopeful about their treatment.

The Cancer Librarians Section of the Medical Librarian Association states that Guided Imagery “…is considered a complimentary therapy that works well with traditional treatments.  Guided Imagery can reduce stress, anxiety, enhance personal awareness, and improve psychological coping skills.”  This article states further “Cancer patients frequently request information or resources on guided imagery and visualization.  These patients are generally interested in complimentary therapies for pain and nausea control, heightened immune functioning, reduced anxiety and depression and to otherwise improve their quality of life with a positive mental attitude.”

Noted Guided Imagery Therapists, Charles D. Leviton, Ed.D. and Patti Leviton, M.A., teach us that “The value of imagery is that imagery can diagnose a problem, provide options for change, and even promote healing and personal empowerment.  Its primary purpose is to allow the body to relax, healing the physical and emotional aspects of self.”

We wish to acknowledge the following publications used in the compilation of this fact sheet:  Dartmouth Medicine, Vital Signs, Winter, 2005.  Psychology.suite.101.com.  Holisticonline.com.  Health Journeys.  Mayo Clinic – Enhance Healing Through Guided Imagery, January 2, 2008.  Hartford Hospital at www.harthosp.org  Charles D. Leviton, Ed.D and Patti Leviton, “Inner Peace Outward Power,” 2007.   Cleveland Clinic Guided Imagery Fact Sheet, 2008.  Cancer Librarians Section, Medical Library Association, 2002.